Hester won't appeal decision

Former New Hope High School baseball coach Stacy Hester said Monday he won''t appeal the decision of Lowndes County School District Superintendent Mike Halford not to retain him as the school''s baseball coach.

Hester, whose last day as the school''s baseball coach was June 30, last month submitted written notification of his intention to appeal the recommendation of Halford and the subsequent 5-0 vote of the Lowndes County School Board to Halford and the five board members Friday at the next regularly scheduled school board meeting at the central office in Columbus.

But Hester apparently changed his mind about pursuing his appeal after he received two letters from Halford dated June 25, 2009, that explained the ground rules for the appeal.

The first letter (RE: Stacy Hester -- Request for Appeal) informed Hester that "since you are not being Terminated (sic) or Non-Renewed (sic) as a Certified Employee (sic), pursuant to Title 37 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 as amended, you are not entitled to a hearing on this reassignment or removal of Coaching Duties (sic).

"Therefore, your request for an Appeal (sic) to the Board of Education, can not be granted as same is not allowed by law."

The second letter (Re: Request to appear before the School Board) informed Hester he would be able to make a presentation (10 minutes) to the school board members in executive session. It went on to state that "your presentation will not involve an appeal of the decision to non renew your at-will agreement to coach baseball at New Hope High School. The board will not entertain any appeal of the decision nor will they (sic) take any action to reverse the decision."

Attempts to reach Halford at his office and on his cell phone Monday weren''t successful.

Lowndes County School Board President Dr. Robert Buckley referred all questions to Jeff Smith, the lawyer for the school district.

Smith, who has represented the school district for 19 years, said Hester''s intention to appeal wasn''t "unprecedented," but that he has seen only a few employees come before the school board to appeal personnel decisions.

In those cases, Smith said, the employees were certified, which means they had more rights than Hester, whose coaching job was an at-will position.

Coaches who are at-will employees don''t have to be given reasons if their positions aren''t renewed.

Even though the letters stipulated the conditions for Hester''s appearance before the school board, Smith said Hester would be able to appear as a citizen and try to convince any of the board members to reconsider the decision not to renew his contract as New Hope High''s baseball coach.

Hester said he remains frustrated he hasn''t been given a reason why he was not retained after a 25-11 season in which he led New Hope to the North Half state finals, where it lost to eventual state champion West Lauderdale.

Hester won 551 games and three state titles in 18 years as baseball coach at New Hope High.

He said Halford still hasn''t spoken to him about his decision and that it is unfortunate that so many lies have been said about him, his coaching methods, and how he treated his players.

"I am not guilty of the things they say I am guilty of," Hester said.

While disappointed he will not return as New Hope High baseball coach, Hester thanked the people who supported him in his time as the school''s coach and in the past three months as the situation unfolded.

"There were a lot of people in the community who allowed us to have success because of their donations and their support," Hester said. "I know I haven''t done anything wrong. It really is a shame and it is sad the way this whole thing went down, but I am prepared to go on and I have gotten over the shock that it didn''t work out. I want to thank all of the people who supported me for 18 years and all of the former players who went on to play in college ball and who became good citizens."

Reader Comments

NHBB Player commented at 7/7/2009 3:23:00 PM:

I'm so glad you are gone. You can cry and claim innocence all you want, but what I saw in that dugout in Hernando was no dream. That was my friend you were throwing around and grownups are not suppose to act like that, especially people who are in role model positions.

No matter what type of deal you made with that family, you are as guilty of trying to hurt my friend and we don't need those type of people coaching anything.

Concerned commented at 7/7/2009 3:31:00 PM:

It concerns me greatly that a parent would let their child do something so childish, or even worse do it because their parents didnt have the nerve to say it themselves. If you are going to bash a man, then at least do it in a respectful way. Publish your name. Stacy Hester is a good man, should he be allowed to continue his reign at New Hope, no he should not. The school board made the decision, so let it be. Don't kick a man while he is down. You got your wish, practice being a man.

BS commented at 7/7/2009 6:04:00 PM:

NHBB,

Why are you pretending to be a student? No one on our team speaks or writes like you did in your post. More childish behavior from very immature adults in New Hope. Coach, I enjoyed playing for you and you made me a better man through discipline and hard work. God bless you!!!

thm commented at 7/7/2009 6:10:00 PM:

Concerned, we dont see your name here. Good for that student for speaking abt whats right!

NHBB Player commented at 7/7/2009 9:09:00 PM:

I'm not pretending to be a student-athlete, I am one and have been kicked when I am down the last time by that man. He was an expert at kicking us while we were down.

Concerned just made themself look like an idiot by calling me out about a name. Think before you post you bozo.

I never want to be like that man. He has some baseball knowledge, I'll give him that, but he will never be my role model and the person to mold my life. I don't want to be arrogant nor treat people like crap. I also will never steal from kids when I don't get my way either. Last but not least, I will never assault a minor as an adult.

BS commented at 7/7/2009 11:06:00 PM:

NHBB

What a joke. Do you realize how much work coach put in at that school for 18 years? He did not take anything that was not his. You should have seen the place before he came and when I played. We had terrible facilities and a crappy field. Do some research before you post.

LV commented at 7/7/2009 11:17:00 PM:

The first guy has already turned down the New Hope job. I guess he found out what he would have to deal with in this community. It serves some of these parents right. I think it is very funny.

taxpayer fan commented at 7/8/2009 12:16:00 AM:

BS,

You need to do a little research before you defend the man. I have fundraised my ass off for the baseball program, getting donations, selling signs, selling fruit, etc. That's why the facilities are like they are now. It's nothing that the coach did other than spend the money the way he wanted to. Coach was paid a salary to do a job, no matter what the hours are. Most of the coaches at New Hope do just as much after hours as Hester does, they just don't get in the paper and say "I" did this and "I" won this. They always give the players credit for playing the game.

To explain just how selfish this man is you can ask the people who donated things to the program. They didn't give them to Hester, they gave them to the baseball program. Our Diamond Club raised money all the time for baseball, bats and other equipment. Those things he did not buy out of his pocket. Those 30 dozen baseballs and bat were purchased with funds from the club and should not have been removed.

LV: Maybe the new coach saw the condition of the program at this time and decided he didn't want to take a job where he had no supplies (baseballs and bats and no telling what else) and where he would have to rebuild the interior of the baseball concession stand. St. Al is the type school that can set their own salaries, so I'm sure the money they threw at him had a lot to do with his decision. He would have never accepted the job in the first place if he had a problem with the parents.

Can't wait to see the new camphouse pictures.

diehardfan commented at 7/8/2009 12:18:00 AM:

Hester should be celebrating he does not have put up with kids with attitudes like yours NHBB player, I enjoyed watching you set the tone for the next few years, at the Dizzy Dean Tournament why don't come out to the football field or basketball court and see what your made of. No don't do that because then you will want those coaches gone also. Now the soccer coach has left, let me guess he was not good enough!!!! Oxford thinks he is.
And I would be careful about saying you will never do something because never is a long time. You will never know when you might have to step in and handle a situation just like the one that day.
The next coach is still going to play the best 9 so and I doubt your one of them or you would not be posting to this site. Keep posting as a player and see how many coaches turn down the job. I am sure some are directed to read this site before they take the job just to see what type of people live here.
To have a player talk negative just shows other coaches what type of kids are here, do us a favor and support the program, practice hard, work hard and be disciplined with your tongue and attitude so we can get a good coach.
The past is the past, we all know Hester is gone but celebrating it on here makes our whole community look bad.
I am sure your parents know you post on here so just be the man Hester has taught you to be and just say its not the right thing to do for our program right now mom and dad. I think we need to support the program and not make negative light to the situation. They will understand and be impressed with you not wanting to make the community look bad.
You will be kicked when your down many times in your life young man, I know I was just kick yesterday and I am 35 but you will see there will be many times when you look back and say I understand why he did it that way.
You have to be a person that has very little responsibility in your life if so you would already understand. Please keep the post positive again its time to move on.

Wow commented at 7/8/2009 12:22:00 AM:

This is what I know. There used to be a lot of things at the field including rakes, shovels, tamps, cabinets, baseballs, bats and so on. (I think you get the idea) They aren't there anymore. That is in black and white and you can see that if you had been around in the last few years.

Now, if you are trying to tell me that those things were purchased with personal funds, you have lost your mind COMPLETELY.

Right is right and WRONG is WRONG - That won't change. Good LUCK to the incoming coach keeping the field maintained without anything to do it with.

Concerned - Don't kick a man while he is down? Interesting. I don't think you should PUSH one down either - especially in an in the ground concrete dugout. (and especially a minor) No WAIT! That was just "discipline", right? Well, let me be the first to put my child on the "don't push down in the dugout" list just like we have a "don't paddle list".

To end this post - quit complaining about the posts on here folks. If the MAN himself would get OUT OF THE NEWSPAPER, these articles and comments would eventually die. It isn't Ancient Greek Astrology.

saywhat commented at 7/8/2009 12:50:00 AM:

If he took things that did not belong to him then someone from the school board should have been there, Where was Halford or another board member to let him know he can't take those things. The Sheriffs should have been there.
It had to have taken him all day and 5 men to load all the stuff people are saying is gone. The Board made the call then they should have been at the field while all this was going on.
Some of the blame should be on school board for allowing it to leave school grounds to begin with. I am shocked at the lack on follow through on the boards part. The last game was played on the 29th was it there then or did he take it on the 30th. Someone should have been there to say no that can't leave.
Does the diamond club not have officers they could have been there if it was donated to the club. At least one of them could have rode by surly.
The Diamond club is in place to make sure the funds are spent correctly, who are those members and when was meetings and how long has he had control of the money with out questions. I think you need to look to the diamond club officers to answer those questions. Have these officers not been in place since the club was started they need to be ask why they allowed it to run the way it was run for so many years. I guess I wonder why question it now, if it has been the same way for years? Have not seen the field since he left but I hope its not all gone like you are saying if so I would call the Board and ask them why they allowed him to take the stuff its a simple question. They are responsible for escorting him out aren't they? Or at least appointing someone to make sure he does not take something that does not belong to him. Accountability who is in charge on the board.

BH commented at 7/8/2009 1:22:00 AM:

I disagree saywhat. Neither the board nor the sheriff's office should have to regulate anything. You should be able to trust that the people in professional positions would act PROFESSIONALLY.

Everyone keeps sending the blame elsewhere. Quit blaming the community, the parents, the booster club members, the board and everyone else. The responsibility for everything at that field falls on TWO people. The COACH and the PRINCIPAL. We, as taxpayers, entrust our children and our funding to the people in those positions on a daily basis. They should be held accountable for their actions and their inactions.

WHY???? commented at 7/8/2009 6:39:00 AM:

I heard the boys basketball coach at NH just quit. Seems to me like there may be more to the story. You lose a girls basketball coach, boys soccer coach, boys baketball coach and the baseball coach in the same year. Something is going on and didn't the high school principle have to fight for his job last year as well. I believe I would ask the question WHY is everybody wanting out and I believe we may all know why.

saywhat commented at 7/8/2009 7:23:00 AM:

The principle and his asst. should have been there I agree and Halford should have been there with them. Its not any different than any other job in the world, Its common sense to be with someone when they leave a job and it is not voluntary!
When someone does not get a contract renewed its different than when they resign surely you are not that low educated.
I am not blaming anyone I was just asking where was the common sense on the boards part, they did not renew him not the principle. Then they should have appointed someone to be at the field for the day it took him to load the stuff. They knew when his last day was. I did not blame anyone it is just common sense if you are going to complain about him taking the stuff then someone could have made one phone call and had him stopped. We vote for these people and entrust they make good choices and that did not happen in this case. I support their decision for the non renewal,
they should have known to have someone their when he left. Again it is common sense in every job to have someone their.

BH commented at 7/8/2009 9:46:00 AM:

This is simple saywhat. Look at the timeline. He was "nonrenewed" well before his contract ran out. It didn't run out until the end of June.

In laymans terms, someone would have needed to be there 24 hours a day for several weeks. It wasn't "you're fired - clear out your stuff tomorrow".

As I said before, we all entrust our kids' safety and education to these people daily. We SHOULD be able to trust that they would all handle the situation appropriately. It is now painfully obvious that the correct decision was made by Mike Halford based on what I have seen since then.

Also, the "I know I didn't do anything wrong" speech is getting old. We have heard enough of that ridiculous comment. I don't know that I have seen anything done RIGHT since the alleged incident happened in the playoffs.

ML commented at 7/8/2009 3:44:00 PM:

Fred,
Shame on you... You should never ever encourage a child to hit an adult.. you should be so ashamed of yourself..
This is what is wrong with our world now, adults allowing their children to do what they want.. no wonder we have guns, bomb threats, and what ever else in our school systems and outside our school systems because of people like you who would approve of a child hitting an adult. Our community and world should get back into God's word and ask him to direct our paths.

ML commented at 7/8/2009 3:44:00 PM:

Fred,
Shame on you... You should never ever encourage a child to hit an adult.. you should be so ashamed of yourself..
This is what is wrong with our world now, adults allowing their children to do what they want.. no wonder we have guns, bomb threats, and what ever else in our school systems and outside our school systems because of people like you who would approve of a child hitting an adult. Our community and world should get back into God's word and ask him to direct our paths.

Here We Are Again commented at 7/8/2009 3:59:00 PM:

While I agree with what you are saying ML - I also think that adults should be teaching other commandments as well.

Ye shall NOT steal & Ye shall NOT bear false witness come to mind.

Adults that ALLOW this type of thing are a problem. However, adults that set this type of example on a regular basis are a problem as well. Let's not forget that.

ML commented at 7/8/2009 4:42:00 PM:

ok... here we are again

The 10 Commandements

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.
4. Thou shalt not steal
5. Thou shalt not kill
6. Thou shalt not bare false witness against they neighbor.
7. Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's house
8. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy
9. Honor they father and mother
10. Thou shalt not commit adultery

now lets get to my point...
Matt: 7:1
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with that judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again..

So when I said we should turn back to God's word this is what I meant.. God knows the truth about everything and who are we to judge and point fingers. We were all born sinners and we will all die sinners.. so lets not bash anyone or judge anyone.. God is our only judge.
We as adults and parents should be teaching our children the correct way to act toward other adults or anyone else for that matter. Not telling our children to pick up something and knock the ___ out of them.
enough said....

wow 2 commented at 7/8/2009 4:48:00 PM:

Fred I am sure you aware that your IP address can be tracked!!!!I would be careful of encouraging our youth to hurt someone or vandalize property. Because you might could be held liable. I would say that is over the top asking someone to do something like that. A kid could hurt someone and use this post as a reason they did a criminal act and it could come back on you.

Max Branch commented at 7/8/2009 8:44:00 PM:

I am so tired of people talking about Coach Hester or whoever it might be. But if your going to talk about him or anyone else don't be afraid to put your name on here. Who would want to be a coach at NH? You have to think after this man was let go and not even contacted by Mr. Halford. If I was Coach Byrd or anyother coach at NH I would resign too.

NH Parent commented at 7/8/2009 9:15:00 PM:

Max,

Please don't fall for this. Mr. Halford did talk to Hester on May 22nd (as stated in one of the articles) and explained why he would not be recommended back. You of all people should not fall for all the "victim" articles Hester has put in the paper. The man has lost it and is trying to blame everyone else for his error. He assaulted a minor and nothing else can be done about it now. You should lose your job when you commit such a act.

no dog in fight commented at 7/9/2009 12:02:00 AM:

As someone said in an earlier post, if that much school property is missing from the baseball field and concession stand, there should be criminal charges brought against someone. The principle or the board should have already filed these charges if all of this stuff is truly missing. Seems mighty fishy that some people are saying this stuff is missing, but the school district has not filed charges.

TRUTH commented at 7/9/2009 12:07:00 AM:

ADAM CAN YOU PLEASE BE A REPORTER INSTEAD OF AN EDITOR AND TELL US, THE PEOPLE TRUTH ABOUT THE STOLEN THINGS FROM THE NEW HOPE PROGRAM THAT HESTER SO LOVED WE ALL TALK ABOUT WHAT HESTER HAS DONE WITH HIS RECORD BUT IN 1 SHORT SPAN OF TIME HE HIMSELF DESTROYED IT ACTING CHILDEST AND DESTROYING SCHOOL PROPERTY IF ONE OF THE KIDS HAD DONE THIS, THEY WOULD BE ARRESTED AND BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. AND I SURELY HOPE THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE ALL WOULD WANT. LET'S MOVE ON WITH THE NEW COACH AND SUPPORT HIM BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME ACCOUNTABILTY BEFORE WE START OVER. GOOD LUCK DIAMOND CLUB I KNOW THESE PEOPLE WILL SUPPORT AND HELP IN ANYWAY, BEST OF LUCK TO THE BOYS! THE NEW GUY WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO WIN AND LIVE AND HE WILL LIVE IT BEFORE YOU NOT JUST TELL YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.

GG commented at 7/9/2009 12:25:00 AM:

Way to show that New Hope education with your usage of grammer.

Trojans#1 commented at 7/9/2009 8:39:00 AM:

You people should all be ashamed for bashing coach Hester the way you have on here. Now he stolen things? really, grow up this man has dedicated part of his life to this program how can all you people sit here and make accusations? IT'S IMMATURE and REDICULOUS you people should grow up!

Fred commented at 7/9/2009 10:08:00 AM:

@wow 2

You are incorrect. I am exercising free speech. I cannot be held liable for anything other than generating a post from someone named wow 2.
If you don't like my comment, mark it as inappriopriate. See, I read the bottom disclaimer too.

Fred commented at 7/9/2009 10:11:00 AM:

And how about concentrating more on who the new coach will be rather than someone who is no longer coach and for that matter has no INTEREST in it. Hester will find something somewhere else.

sportsfan commented at 7/9/2009 10:24:00 AM:

Everything on school grounds should be marked or labeled showing it belongs to LCSD if any of those items are missing then the coach is in trouble, I am sure he told someone on the school board what belonged to him and I would think they said if it does not have LCSD then its fair game.
If he did something he was not suppose to then the school board would have already had him charged with theft of property or at least ask him to return what belong to the LCSD If it belong to Diamond Club then someone should have been smart enough to have it engraved, labeled with property of NHDC even if it is donated it should still be marked with NHDC. I am very surprised someone was not with him on his last day, the paper stated it was on the 30th, they played baseball on the 29th so the board knew when he was leaving.
Seems like the board dropped the ball. And there should have been someone there with the DC to say hey that was donated to the club.
What happens now is if you go after him and a donor speaks up and says I gave that to Coach Hester not the club then you are in big trouble because of a false charge. Lessons learned clearly mark every thing donated NHDC unless the person gives it directly to the coach. Then he can mark it with his name. This must have been a tough group of parents this year, the new coach will have his hands full trying to make them all happy.

Don E. Brook commented at 7/9/2009 10:46:00 AM:

Lee Boyd, former NHS and U. of West Alabama pitcher to be named new coach. I hope that the community will rally around him and turn this situation into a positive one for the sake of the players.

class Of 1995 commented at 7/9/2009 11:14:00 AM:

Congrates to Lee Boyd! You will have your hands full, with all those cry baby parents who don't know how to discipline thier own children. I played four years of ball at New hope and watched first hand how parents react to coaches. Parents can be worst than most two year olds when they dont get their way. My hats off to Stacey Hester! You built an awsome program. You will move onto bigger and better things. My advice to New Hope parents, If you don't like how a public school coach treats your child send them to a private school!

Here we are again commented at 7/9/2009 11:22:00 AM:

No - everything should not be marked. Things that are below a certain dollar amount ($500 I think) are not marked with a county tag unless it is something specifically calling for a tag like a TV or DVD player.

So sportsfan - Using your logic, we should ALL be able to go take anything from school property that doesn't have a tag on it because it is "fair game". That could be the most ridiculous comment I have seen on this board to date. If you or I did that, it would be considered theft by definition. I guess everyone should now go RAID the Gym for everything that doesn't have a LCSD tag because Byrd just resigned. Again, ridiculous. This is simple. If you didn't pay for something with YOUR OWN PERSONAL MONEY, it is not YOURS. If it was given to the BOOSTER CLUB as a donation, it belongs to the baseball program.

What the heck happened to common sense around here?

Dana Lee commented at 7/9/2009 12:44:00 PM:

My question is, if the items were stolen, is there proof that Stacy did this? Did someone watch him take the items, or have video. Justice is innocent until proven guilty. If it does come back and he is guilty then justice will take place, if not then apologies are needed.

Dana Lee commented at 7/9/2009 12:46:00 PM:

My question is, if the items were stolen, is there proof that Stacy did this? Did someone watch him take the items, or have video. Justice is innocent until proven guilty. If it does come back and he is guilty then justice will take place, if not then apologies are needed.

sportsfan commented at 7/9/2009 1:11:00 PM:

My point is if something can be done about coach taking the stuff lets do something and stop complaining about it on a public form. Make something happen.
If you or I leave our job today voluntary or involuntary there are things that belong to me and things that don't. That is in our personal work space. You follow me! Office, vehicle ect. Some things I bought, some things were giving to me, some things the company bought.
Someone representing who I work for is going to make sure I do not take what is not mine. I personally consider it all mine because I have worked here for 30 years but in reality it does not belong to me.
The baseball field is his work space and has been for 18 years just as the gym is the coaches work space. And you have your work space. Yes coach Hester should have used common sense when taking items but I do not think he was happy with the board, they knew that he wan not happy with them and that makes it so much more important for someone to have been there with him when he packed his things and left. NOW that is COMMON SENSE management. Coach has the right to be there and get what belongs to him and only what belongs to him. Me and you do not work for the school so we do have that right.
I am not happy about him taking the stuff myself but since I did not go there to stop him I only have myself to blame. I read in the paper when his last day was and I was at the game on the 29th. The stuff was there then. I did not go to the field on the 30th.
And if the items were marked we not even be having this discussion right now. We could go get them back from him because we would know who the items belong to, it would be clear cut.
It would make it a lot easier to track down stolen items from the school if it was all marked.
The school might can get ideas on how to prevent this type of situation in the future, again lessons learned.
You have a great point (here we are) it is well taken but of course it could be looked at 10 different ways and discussed till we all turned blue in the face.
Lets start posting about what a great new coach we have, plan some work days to make the field better than when Hester was here. PUT THE PAST IN THE PAST
I can feel the excitement coach Boyd will bring to the program. Don't think they could have picked a harder working young coach that him.
I say let the Boyd era begin.

LOLinCALEDONIA commented at 7/9/2009 1:53:00 PM:

Since when is it the reponsibility of a property owner to chain down/label/hide their belongings? The blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the thief-not the victim(s). If Hester knowingly took items that belong to the baseball team/school then he should be prosecuted. End of story.

again commented at 7/9/2009 2:29:00 PM:

For the record, I believe that when things are permanently installed in a school facility, they become the property OF said facility. I believe that is what the law says. Correct me if I am wrong. I also have to wonder if there was a tax write off taken as a result of that particular "donation". If

Had ON LOAN??? You really have to be kidding me here. I suppose there was a notarized contract for that "loan", right? That was an excellent "attempt" to explain certain things away. However, most of us with half a brain aren't buying that one - NO WAIT - LOANING that one. ;-)

I am going to agree with certain parts of that sportsfan. I agree that Boyd is a great guy and also an excellent coach. The PROGRAM should move on and move in the direction HE sets. However, what we are talking about here is a separate issue. It has nothing to do with the current players or the current coach. It has to do with right and wrong. Whether we are starting things over or not, my feeling is that the situation should be handled - and maybe it is being handled. I really don't know.

Agreed 100% Caledonia! That's all it boils down to. Anything that was given to BASEBALL or the PROGRAM should have stayed there. Anything that was purchased with school funds, booster club funds OR summer funds for the school should have stayed there. I really hope somebody took a good inventory of everything that was there - even the things that didn't have a LCS tag on them.

again commented at 7/9/2009 2:31:00 PM:

For the record, I believe that when things are permanently installed in a school facility, they become the property OF said facility. I believe that is what the law says. Correct me if I am wrong. I also have to wonder if there was a tax write off taken as a result of that particular "donation". If

Had ON LOAN??? You really have to be kidding me here. I suppose there was a notarized contract for that "loan", right? That was an excellent "attempt" to explain certain things away. However, most of us with half a brain aren't buying that one - NO WAIT - LOANING that one. ;-)

I am going to agree with certain parts of that sportsfan. I agree that Boyd is a great guy and also an excellent coach. The PROGRAM should move on and move in the direction HE sets. However, what we are talking about here is a separate issue. It has nothing to do with the current players or the current coach. It has to do with right and wrong. Whether we are starting things over or not, my feeling is that the situation should be handled - and maybe it is being handled. I really don't know.

Agreed 100% Caledonia! That's all it boils down to. Anything that was given to BASEBALL or the PROGRAM should have stayed there. Anything that was purchased with school funds, booster club funds OR summer funds for the school should have stayed there. I really hope somebody took a good inventory of everything that was there - even the things that didn't have a LCS tag on them.

James Brown commented at 7/9/2009 4:25:00 PM:

Of all the posters on this thread only 2 used their name(max bright and dana lee)Fred Don't count..In my opinion if you can't use your name you are afraid of something or someone..A lot of yellow-bellying going on in these posts..If you feel right in your opinion and post it,you should not be afraid to use your name.

James brown

concerned parent commented at 7/9/2009 9:29:00 PM:

All Lowndes County teachers are required to take a complete inventory of their rooms, including school owned items on capital assets, school owned items not on capital assets, and employee owned items. It should be on record what belongs to whom.

former newhope resident commented at 7/9/2009 11:40:00 PM:

I went to a few games last year and i have kept up with nh baseball .Stacy hester seems to have done a great job at coaching, maybe he needed help with his people skills , i don't know. But he wasw hired to win baseball games and he did this. The games i went to and people's comments ( I work with nh parents) seemed to me that discipline had been lacking from home. The incident where he shoved the young man started because the youngster was going after a player from the other team. Now i'm from the old school teachings of when the coach tell's you to get back to the dugout , That is what you did! No if ands or but's. What happend in the dugout should never have gotten that far.Did he do wrong( in the dugout) I don't know i wasn't there. But there are a bunch of whiner's (kids and parents) involved in the new hope baseball program. I work with a few.They were very satisfied as long as their kids were playing, but when they aren't they get mad and bad mouth the coach.I personally know a few of the kids and their parents and no offense, your kids would ride the bench no matter who coached ! All of your whining and crying isn't going to change that. Now, unless you get a coach like (younger) who will play his own kid or his buddies kids it shouldn't change. I have seen with my own eyes the parents who use foul language and make a spectacle of themselves at these games, and then want to talk about the coach.As far as the stuff taken by hester , the school principal , board and boosters shoukld have an accurate inventory of every piece of equipment, furniture, seed, fertilizer ,etc. This should be done in order to prevent this sort of thing from happening. People on here have spoken for both sides , Yes he got what was his , no he got more than what was his. If you have (reciepts) documentation of all things ( booster club, donations ,school funds and personal ) then there should be no doubt about what was or wasn't property of newhope baseball. And no , just because something is installed on a facility does not become automatic property of said facility! If there is no written documentation as to what was and was not newhope baseball property , then you have nothing but, heresay. I know Lee boyd and he is a fine young man,comes from an excellent family and is a really good baseball player. I am sure he will be a good coach and representative for newhope baseball! But you parents who want to tell him what and how to coach need to shutm your mouths and sit down and let him run his own program! Don't be stupid and run off a good coach and person by taking things personal. He will play the people he needs to play and make the calls he needs to make , without your help! Good luck to you Lee and god bless you brother!

Charlie Brown commented at 7/10/2009 9:59:00 AM:

James Brown,
I thought you were dead! Amazing things can happen in New Hope. :)

Mr. Ed commented at 7/11/2009 9:14:00 PM:

Dana Lee,

Coach Hester admits to taking the stuff. Hello.
He did a complete interview admitting it was his.

HE SAID HE DID IT.

baseblllparent commented at 7/12/2009 9:19:00 AM:

john q

You are pathetic, you have no idea what you are talking about. Halford use to complain non stop about all you cry baby parents. Whats wrong did coach get on your baby, or hurt your feelings. The problem was/is that most of you think your precious little babies are better than they really are(ie Younger). If you are going to bash someone in public use your name, now wait you are like the rest of the bashers A COWARD!!!! Fine example for all these precious little children everyone is so concearned about. Get a life

yet again commented at 7/12/2009 7:43:00 PM:

Pot calling the kettle black baseblllparent?

What does YOUNGER have to do with this? I see ACTION = CONSEQUENCE and that is all. Most of you keep forgetting that. It is in black and white. The problem with some of you is that you think your precious little coach is better than he actually is.

Examples??? You are talking about POSITIVE and NEGATIVE examples???? You have GOT to be kidding me. I have seen the example that has been set starting with the Hernando incident and ending with the supplies at the field. Fine example there as well. NAME or NO NAME - truth is truth. Personally, I think that most of what John Q had to say was dead on. I am not familiar with the money situations, but the rest seems pretty accurate to me.

downsouth commented at 7/13/2009 9:36:00 AM:

Yall are ruining a great baseball program, when people think of New Hope baseball it is going to be about you all letting a winning coach go and bunch of parents with personal vendettas and that is just from reading the post on here, because that is what this sounds like.
The coach is gone but now you start something new. There is going to be no end to this. It is great entertainment I have to say. Some of these post are ridiculous. See yall in the playoffs. That is if your parents can let the coach do his Job.